When Time Stands Still

If you enjoy meeting new people, then you will find Me’ah richly rewarding. In addition to briefly schmoozing with your classmates and listening to your top notch instructors, through class lectures and through readings you will get to know scholars from generations ago. &nb...

If you enjoy meeting new people, then you will find Me’ah richly rewarding. In addition to briefly schmoozing with your classmates and listening to your top notch instructors, through class lectures and through readings you will get to know scholars from generations ago. Not only will you discover brilliant minds, but you will also come to understand their everyday circumstances, customs, and interactions. Scholars like Leon Jehuda of Modena, Maimonides and Nachmanides come to life through their inspiring writings and observations. The Me’ah experience provides the kind of intensity and submersion required to attain the sense of meeting immortal souls.

Though all Me’ah students at one time or another experience difficulty finishing all of the assigned readings, and through our learning about the Bible and Rabbinics even more questions are raised (good food whets the appetite for more), Me’ah consistently meets the needs of participants of various backgrounds.

For me, time stands still twice a week. Once on Shabbat, when the barriers of time dissolve and our day of rest is similar to Shabbatot of all time; and again on Monday nights when I go to my Me’ah class. On Monday nights we travel through time, comparing and contrasting political and religious issues of the biblical period, the Middle Ages, and today’s world. Issues such as where to draw the line between exclusivity and tolerance of the surrounding culture and people, and survival strategies. Hopefully by learning lessons that the Bible, Talmud,Rabbis and scholars teach us, we can further develop our current stance.

Me’ah is for people of all backgrounds and levels of Jewish education. I hope you will seize the opportunity to experience this program! Know that all of your classmates will be adults with careers and/or families, with limited reading time but lots of desire to learn and share their insights with you. – Linna Ettinger

Linna Ettinger is a CJP Fellow, currently enrolled in Hebrew College’s Master’s in Jewish Education with a Concentration in Jewish Early Childhood Education program. Prior to enrolling in Hebrew College’s Master’s program, Linna completed the Me’ah program in 2000 and continued her studies to complete a certificate in Jewish Thought and Spirituality from the Me’ah Graduate Institute, representing another one hundred hours of study with courses in the field of Jewish Thought. Linna is also a volunteer co-chair of Adult Education at Temple Emunah in Lexington. During the day Linna works with four year olds and their families in the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah.

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